WAIKINO OLD BOYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4681, 31 March 1924, Page 2

WAIKINO OLD BOYS.

ANNUAL REUNION.

A HAPPY GATHERING.

The eighth annual reunion of the

Waikino Old Boys’ Association was held in the Victoria Hall, Waikino, on Friday evening, Mr R. Shaw presiding over an attendance of about a hundred members and visitors.

In welcoming members the president said it was unfortunate that the weather had been so unkind that the attendance had been greatly affected. He explained that the objects of the association were entirely social, and expressed the hope that members would have a pleasant time and renew many old acquaintances.

Mention was made of three members who had passed away during the year and a vote of sympathy with their relatives was carried, members standing in silence. The deceased wee Messrs W. C. Edwards, W. Butler, and J. Shields.

The proceedings opened with the National Anthem, after which a lengthy toast list was honoured. In proposing the toast of “Local Bodies" Mr E. Johnson referred to the magnificent work done by the Oh'nemuri County Council in developing the district, and particularly in maintaining the roads hi such com-pa,-atively good order. The council was also to be thanked for having sub .sidised the School of Mines, thereby enabling it to remain open.

Air H. M. Corbett, the riding repre - sentative on the Ohinemuri tlount' Council, in replying, said that it was pleasing to hear a local body .praised. Ho was, perhaps, the oldest member of the council, but did not claim any credit for the good roads ; that was due to the sound work done ,n the past. With his many years of experience lie could find one flaw i'l local body administration, and that was too much centralisation. In ills opinion the Ohinemuri County Council spent too much money on the main roads and left very little for the butlying districts. Mr H. M. Wallnutt, in proposing the toast of “The Pioneers,” said that they were the men who were to be thanked for the conditions of to-day. In replying, Mr W. C. Kennedy said he was one of the oldest residents . f thc Goldfields, having arrived in 1875. So far as he knew there were only five otners alive at present who were on the goldfields at that time-—Mrs G’>’’don, of Waitekauri, Mr R. Reid, of Hamilton, Mr C. Franklin, c-f Remut ra, Mr Jack Pennell, of Paeroa, and Mr R. Pennell, of Waihi. Otheis who had been there almost as long, as far as he could remember, were Messrs W. Farmer, W. Frearson, and W. Nicholl.

“The Farming Community” was proposed by Mr C. Andrews, who re ferrod to the primary products of. New Zealand as a creidit to the whole world. He compared the conditions of farming at the present time witn those of many years ago.

The toast was responded to ’V Messrs G. Cochrane, O. Cumming-, and G. Mace.

Mr K. Sprague, in proposing th 2 toast* of "The Waikino Old Boys,” apologised for the absence of the Thame. Valley Power Board chairman, who had particularly wished ti, be present to give an outline of th? board's policy. The board had been in operation for four years, and now claimed to be the most advanced sunply organisation in New Zealand. Mistakes had been made in the past, but it must be remembered that the board had ho precedent to follow. It and all the other boards in New Zealand had profited by its experience. The policy of the board was to undertake work that would be payable, but it was not allowed to make any profits. Any surplus must be given back to the ratepayers. In concluding he mentioned that the resident engineer. Mr N. McLeod, was a Waikino old boy. Returning thanks, the chairman, Mr R. Shaw, said that the association was always very pleased to see old identities back again at its annual function. He was particularly pleased to see Mr J. T. Knight, who was one of the founders of the association. Members of local bodies were always very welcome, and he was very pleased to see the Mayor of Waihi among the local body members present. The function was thfe eighth of its kind, none having been held during the war period. He wished to pay a tribute to Mr W. W. Harris, the association’s secretary, who had been its mainstay and wiio kept it together. “ The Thames Hospital Board,” proposed by Mr. J. T. Knight, was responded to by Mr Geo. Tonge, its secretary. Mr Tonge .said that the board had some years ago set out to put the institution on the highest plane in New Zealand, an X-ray plant having been installed and an antnple and efficient staff employed. District nurses travelled the whole of the territory from near Coromandel to Morrinsville. In about a month s time the .maternity home would be opened Incidently, it would be one of the cheapest in New Zealand, for in a case of average duration the charge would be only 6s more than the Friendly Society maternity bonus. An arrangement had been made with the Waihi Hospital Board whereby patients from Waikino and Karangahake could be admitted to that institution instead of going to Thames. This had been arranged because it was thought that people would prefer to be nearer their hemes and where they could oe visited more easily. He thanked the members for the toast and apologised for the absence of the chairman of the board. Mr W. C. Kennedy said that as the man who drove the first pick in the Waihi mine he could speak with a thorough knowledge of the mining industry. He spoke of the conditions of work in the industry in the early days, and of how they had improved. He concluded by predicting that when M- H. Holland became Prime Minister miners would only have to work two hours a day. Mr E. Johnson spoke of the enormous wealth produced, and the benefit it would be to the Dominion for an - other Martha mine to be discovered.

Ho referred to the industries that & mining induced, and mentioned that it was the Waihi Goldmining Companv that opened up the Horahora hydroelectric scheme. Other toasts honoured were : “The Visitors.” proposed by Mr H. Murray and responded to by Messrs Wallnutt, Tonge, Wood, and Andrews ; “The Organisers of the Function,” proposed by Mr Mace and responded to by the chairman The Ladies,” proposed by Mr Young and responded to by Mr C. Andrews.

A splendid musical programme was interspersed among the toasts. Ainong th-xse contributing songs or recitations wore : Messrs W. Hodge, L. Fee, J. Ably, and W. Armour, of Waihi; W. J. Word, J. Young, S. C. Wyke, and W. Revell, of Te Aroha; and NWhaley, of Waikinp. Mr J. Harbidge Z" officiated at the piano, and with him were Mesm's Carloyne (cornet), and' Addy and Capper (violin). The function was brought to a cl we about 1 a.m. with the of “Auld Lang Syne,” ~